Thursday, June 30, 2016

Kicked-up Burgers for Summertime

Whenever a summer holiday comes along, my first craving is
for a hamburger. (With a hot dog not a too distant second. Okay, I’ll
admit to having one of each!) Did you know Americans eat about 14 billion
burgers each year? I guess I’m not alone in my craving for this meat patty on a
bun.

If you’re having guests over to celebrate the holiday,
consider setting up a hamburger and hot dog bar. Then everyone can have fun
trying out different flavor combinations on their meat of choice. Cook up some
hot dogs and hamburgers, and then set up a condiment bar so people can choose
their own toppings. (You may want to hold a fun contest for the most creative
hamburger and hot dog, with prizes.) Also, condiment combinations, such as how
to make a Chicago Dog, can be printed and framed to set on the bar, or written
on a chalkboard.

Here are some hot dog and hamburger bar suggestions:

Regular
and poppy-seed hot dog buns

Regular
and onion hamburger buns

Ketchup

Mustards,
yellow and brown

Barbecue
sauce

Mayonnaise

Salsa

Sweet
pickle relish

Dill
pickle slices

Dill
pickle spears

Diced
onion

Sliced
purple onion

Sautéed
onions

Banana
pepper slices

Jalapeno
pepper slices

Sauerkraut

Tomato
slices

Lettuce
leaves

Chili

Coleslaw

Crispy
bacon, sliced and crumbles

Nacho
cheese

Blue
cheese crumbles

Sliced
American, cheddar, and pepper-jack cheeses

Grated
cheddar cheese

While I love a simple hamburger cooked with just a sprinkle
of salt and pepper, once in a while I like to kick them up in flavor. I first
came across this recipe in a diet book, of all things. I’ve tinkered with it a
bit. The original version of the recipe called for cilantro, but I like parsley
better. But, if you’re a cilantro fan, by all means, give it a try.

For other summertime holiday recipes, check out the links on this blog post from last year!

Kicked-up Burgers

Serves 4

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 tablespoon dried mustard

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

4 hamburger buns

Butter

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients together, and
then shape into patties. Cook the burgers any way you choose—on the grill, or
with a broiler or skillet—to the desired doneness. (I love them cooked in my
cast iron skillet!) While the burger cooks, spread butter on the cut sides of
the hamburger buns. Toast them either on the grill, under the broiler or in a
skillet. Once the burgers are done, place on a toasted bun and top with your
favorite condiments.